by Chris Pike
Burkov dipped his chin and left.
* * *
A short time later, the guards escorted the Americans back to the classroom which was now their holding cell. Dillon, Chandler, and Ryan were huddled near a wall discussing what they had learned.
“That’s it?” Ryan asked in bewilderment. “They need oil? Why didn’t the Russians just increase their oil imports instead of detonating an EMP? Don’t they realize how many people have died because of it?”
“I’m not an expert on world oil,” Dillon said, “but I do remember reading a report about how Russian oil fields were being depleted at an alarming rate. Apparently, the money from their exports pays for their military.”
“This is all starting to make sense now,” Chandler said. “When I came back from my deployment, I had a job waiting for me where the discovery well was made. Talk was the oil field was huge, and I mean huge. Like the biggest in the world type of huge. All the landowners around here were going to be rich because of the oil and gas pooling laws in Texas. That includes Holly’s and Amanda’s land.”
“I think I understand now,” Dillon said. “When the EMP struck, we all were just trying to survive. Nobody was concerned about royalty checks or the oil rig sitting idly in the pasture. The Russians were waiting until the maximum number of Americans died due to natural causes, starvation, lack of medical care…whatever. They came in with their helicopters, fuel trucks, generators, and…” Dillon was deep in thought. “And that explains all the oil field equipment stacked near the school.”
“But why do they need us?” Ryan asked. “Why didn’t they just get more Russians to do the work?”
“I don’t know,” Dillon said. “I guess they are short on able-bodied men. Who knows what’s happening on the world stage? Maybe there’s a war somewhere. What all this tells me is the Russians aren’t as well equipped as they want us to believe. There’s a crack in their veneer and all we need to do is to find a way to get in.”
Chapter 27
At Holly’s house, Nico led the discussion about how they were going to rescue Dillon, Chandler, and Ryan. Voices were tense with emotion.
Reload sat by Kate’s side, taking in the voice intonations and the underlying meanings. He sensed Nico had taken charge and was giving directions.
Anna sat on the floor next to Reload and placed her head on the big dog’s back. At first Reload didn’t know how to react to the child, so he waited for Kate’s guidance. Through the tone of her voice and body language, it was clear to Reload he should tolerate the extra attention.
Holly had been outside getting a fire going in the grill so she could boil water for coffee. She had kept the coffee for a special occasion, and had planned to serve it at Cassie and Ryan’s wedding, but this gathering would do just as well. Besides, they needed some semblance of normalcy in this crazy world.
Communications had been down for months and the only news came from people who had escaped the big cities, telling horror stories of what was happening.
Gangs ran rampant and controlled entire neighborhoods, routinely plundering homes rumored to still contain supplies of food and water. Hospitals had been looted of food and medicine, while veterinary offices had been stripped of cat and dog food for surviving pets.
Gossip indicated pets remaining in the cities disappeared at night. Even more disturbing were the people who raised dogs to be sold and butchered as food.
People did what they needed to survive, and Holly was thankful she had gotten out when she did. She shuddered at what might have happened to her if Dillon hadn’t been there to help her when the plane clipped the Harris County Courthouse. Dillon had saved her, now it was time she returned the favor.
“Coffee’s ready,” she said, walking into the dining room. She poured coffee for Nico, Dorothy, and Amanda. Cassie waved her off, instead opting for a glass of cool well water which she flavored with a pinch of Tang, courtesy of the goody bag Chandler’s mom had packed. Months earlier Dillon had rigged up a pulley system for the indoor well which kept the water at a constant seventy-two degrees.
After petting Reload for a while, Anna went to the living room where she perused the bookshelves for something to read. She found listening to grown-up talk quite boring. She wished Dillon was here because he always made time to talk to her and show her how things worked. He had told her a lot of stories, and since the TV was useless, Anna relished the time Dillon spent with her. There were times she wished she had a dad like Dillon.
“I’m afraid this is the last of the coffee,” Holly said. She poured the last drop in Nico’s cup.
“I’ve come up with a plan,” Nico said.
All eyes were trained on Nico, and even Anna listened in from the adjoining room.
“We’ll do this in layers,” Nico began, “so that each person does what they are best at doing. Nobody needs to take stupid chances, so let’s go around the table and assess what skills each one of us has to offer.”
“My dad taught me how to shoot a rifle,” Cassie said eagerly, “and also how to use a pistol to protect myself.”
Dorothy piped in. “I don’t have the training you have. I don’t know how to shoot.”
Right as Kate was about to speak, Nico stopped her. He already knew she was a crack shot. The bravery she demonstrated at the Alamo spoke volumes. The discussion was about to take a turn for the worse and he needed to nip it in the bud. “Dorothy, you can be the lookout. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Okay, listen up. This is what we are going to do to rescue Dillon.”
At the mention of Dillon’s name, Anna closed the book she had been reading. She moved away from the bookshelves and tiptoed to the foyer next to the dining room, just out of sight of the grownups. While Nico laid out his plan, Anna recalled a conversation she had with Dillon when he showed her how to shoot. They were in the pasture, where Dillon practiced shooting.
“Why is it so long?” Anna asked, referring to the lightweight pistol.
“This is a Walther P22 with a silencer on it that makes it look longer. When you shoot, it will be quiet like in the spy movies.” Dillon showed her the ten-round stainless steel magazine then inserted it into the gun’s handle. He pulled the slide back then released it.
“Why did you pull back the top of the gun and let it go?” Anna asked.
“The top of the gun is the slide. I pulled it back so it will take a cartridge–a bullet–from the magazine, and put it in the barrel for firing. You only have to do it one time after the magazine is inserted. Do you understand?”
Anna nodded.
“After you fire, the slide snaps back and automatically pushes another cartridge into the barrel so you can shoot faster.” Dillon didn’t bring up the issue of recoil since this pistol’s recoil was minimal, even for a child.
“Can I try?”
“Of course.” Dillon put ear protection on Anna then placed the gun in her hands. He positioned her for an accurate shot at the target.
Anna held her arms straight like Dillon told her to. She locked her right elbow, left hand supporting her right one.
“Keep your eyes open, and hold the pistol tight. Keep your trigger finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.”
Anna aimed the pistol at the target and peered through the sights. She pulled the trigger and a bullseye appeared on the five yard target.
“Keep going until the slide locks back. That means there are no more bullets in the magazine.”
Anna fired all the rounds until the slide locked back. “Why did it do that?” she asked.
“It’s out of bullets.”
Anna accepted the explanation without further questions.
“Good girl!” He patted her on the back.
Anna gave the pistol back to Dillon and he made it safe. He retrieved the target and showed her. “This is very good. All bullseyes. You’re a regular Annie Oakley, I do believe. Do you want to show your mom?”
“I can’t wait to sho
w her.”
The memory was fresh in her mind, and as the conversation continued at the dining room table, Anna recalled the other story Dillon had told her about Denmark during WWII. The funny names of Copenhagen and Gestapo didn’t make much sense to her, but Dillon told her about a spy who used a .22 pistol with a silencer to rescue people.
Good guy, .22, silencer, and escape were the only important details that mattered to her. She’d show the adults she could do what big girls did. Her heart beat faster and her little palms dampened at the thought of what she had planned.
She went upstairs and retrieved her pink Hello Kitty backpack. With cat-like movements, Anna crept down the stairs to the room where the guns were hidden under the hardwood floor. She stopped and listened to the adults talking. Good, they were still busy.
Taking a chair, she scooted it to a shelf where the Phillip’s screwdriver was located. Kneeling, she pulled back the rug and spotted the board she had seen Dillon remove. She worked the deck screw until it popped out of the board. She removed the board, then another one, until she found the hidden stash.
She was confused by all the boxes of ammunition, long barreled guns and some that looked like military weapons she had seen on TV. Tentatively, she pushed the rifles to the side. There, she spotted what she was after.
Her heart pounded.
It was the spy gun Dillon had let her shoot. It was in a holster and only the tip of the silencer peeked out. A thick rubber band was wrapped around five shiny silver magazines. She picked them up and tested their weight. They were heavy so they must be loaded.
Anna unzipped her Hello Kitty backpack and adjusted the gun and magazines until they settled on the bottom. She fluffed her jacket to conceal them.
As she was about to replace the floorboards, she remembered hearing about the cyclone fence around the school. She’d need something for that too. She spotted the knife Dillon had used to demonstrate how to cut wire. Using both hands, she picked up the sheathed knife with the steel nub sheath that fit through the hole in the knife blade. When both were fitted together properly, it made heavy duty scissors. She placed the sheathed knife in the pink backpack and zipped it up.
Anna worked quickly to replace the floorboards. She put the Phillips screwdriver back in place and returned the chair back to its original spot, just in time too.
“Does everybody understand what to do?” Nico asked. He made eye contact with each woman to make sure everybody was on the same page.
“We do,” Holly replied.
“Okay then. Gear up and put on the darkest clothes you have.” Nico stood. “I’ll get the truck.”
“What about me?” Anna asked. “Am I dressed okay?” She had on a pair of blue jeans and a green top.
“You’re staying here,” Nico said.
“What? No!” Anna exclaimed. “I’m too scared to stay here. I’ll be all by myself. The boogie man might get me. And there’s no light or TV and—”
“There’s no other choice,” Nico said. “It’s too dangerous for you to come with us. Reload will stay with you. Right, Kate?”
“Sure. That’s fine,” she said. “Reload is good company. And he won’t let anybody in the house.”
Anna lowered her head, and the fake tears came easily. “Suppose you don’t come back. Then what do I do?” Through red-rimmed eyes she begged her mother for support. “Let me come with you. Please. I’ll be quiet and I won’t be any trouble. I promise.” She sniffled and waited for a response.
“Nico, Anna’s a brave little girl,” Dorothy said. “She won’t be any trouble. I assure you.”
Nico scratched the side of his head. “Well,” he thought a moment. “I guess she can come with us, although it’s against my better judgment. I suppose it would be scary for her to stay here all alone. But make sure she stays quiet and out of the way.”
“Thank you,” Dorothy said. “She won’t be any trouble. I promise.”
“It’ll be dusk soon. Meet out front before then. I’ll bring the truck around.”
Chapter 28
A mile south of the school, Nico cut the lights to the truck and went off road. The truck bounced along the uneven ground, the shocks squeaked, and Nico prayed the woods would absorb the sound. He spotted a thicket suitable for hiding the truck. Cutting the wheel, he backed the truck in to make it easier for a hasty getaway if needed. He cut the engine and pocketed the keys.
The sun’s rays touched the tops of the pine trees, casting a warm glow feathering skyward. A breeze came by, brushing the oaks, and weathered leaves floated to the ground.
“Holly,” Nico said, “do you have the spare key just in case something goes wrong?”
“I do.”
Nico glanced over his shoulder at the women sitting in the back seat. “I need everyone to stay quiet and to watch where you walk. We don’t need anyone spraining an ankle. I want everyone to walk single file behind me. Holly, you’ll bring up the rear. Dorothy, keep an eye out for anything unusual. Anna, you stay quiet. Understood?”
Anna nodded. She pursed her lips together, put her fingers to her lips and made a motion with her thumb and index finger like she was zipping her lips closed.
“Let’s get out of the truck and take a few minutes to go over the plan. We need to be in place by the time it gets dark.”
Nico exited the truck and carefully pushed the door into place. The click echoed louder than he would have liked. “Shhh,” he whispered. He listened for footsteps where none should be or the sounds of guns being readied for firing, or any foreign sounds among nature’s whisperings.
“Anna,” Nico said, “you stay next to the truck and don’t move.”
Satisfied they were alone, he gathered the group. He spotted a bare patch of ground, took a stick, and drew the perimeter of the school compound in the dirt. While Nico had never seen the school, Holly had found an old high school yearbook and showed it to him so he could understand the layout. He drew the layout, including the football field.
“I’m guessing the Russians will have one guard stationed at the football stadium concession stand. Here,” he said tapping the ground, “at the top of the stands. The guard will have a good view of the area around the football field, but won’t be able to see the other side of the school. That’s where we will be. Now, I’m also guessing they will have constructed guard towers on this side of the school. It won’t be as high as the one in the football field. We’ll have to watch out for them.
“Remember, darkness is our friend. Don’t be afraid of the dark. But we need to work fast while it’s dusk when the light plays tricks on people’s eyes, and before night vision glasses are useful. Also, the woods are thick, and the trees can stop most high-powered bullets.”
“If we get separated, how will we get back to the truck?” Holly asked.
Nico unzipped his backpack and took out several light sticks. “On the way there, I’ll drop a few light sticks on the ground with the skinny end pointed in the right direction where the truck is parked. I’ll place them so they can’t easily be seen unless you’re looking for them.”
Once the issue of getting lost had been addressed, Nico took a few minutes to go over strategy and what to do in case an epic fail occurred or if someone was captured or injured. “I know what I’ve said may be disturbing, but we have to consider the big picture. Is everyone on board?”
He scanned the group to make sure they understood what was expected of them. “Good. Let’s go. I’ll lead the way. Dorothy, you keep Anna close to you.” Nico glanced to where he had told Anna to stay. A worried expression spread across his face.
Anna was nowhere in sight.
Nico palmed his head and let his hand stay there. He mumbled a string of obscenities that would have shocked a hardened sailor.
He ended it with a pronounced, “Crap!”
* * *
Anna had plans other than to wait around for the grownups to decide what to do. Time was ‘a wasting, as her mother always said, so she shouldered he
r Hello Kitty backpack, slid away from the truck, skidded around to the other side where she couldn’t be seen, and dashed into the woods.
She had been in the woods near Holly’s house several times, but she had always been with someone. This evening while she walked toward the school, the trees seemed especially large and foreboding and the breeze whistling through the leaves was more worrying. Her imagination ran wild with images of the boogie man and wild animals lurking behind the trees in front of her, waiting to snatch her.
Further she walked away from the safety of the group, closer to the school. Once when something scurried nearby, she let out a surprised yelp. She cupped her hand over her mouth to muffle a scream.
Go away! she told the imaginary demons.
Gathering her courage, she found a trail leading to the school. Finally, the buildings appeared. Crouching down, she ran to where the bushes came to within a few yards of the cyclone fence. She noticed a strange type of wire looping against the fence. She figured it was barbed wire, but there were no barbs. How dumb could those soldiers be?
The sun dipped beneath the horizon and within seconds, the land became quieter.
Darker.
Scarier.
Crouched next to the bushes, Anna made herself as little as possible, listening to muffled voices of the Russians interspersed with laughter. She flinched at the sound of a gunshot.
Her eyes roamed over the compound for Dillon, and she listened for American voices. A group of men was sitting on the ground next to the main entrance of the high school. Squinting, she spied Dillon. Next to him were Ryan and Chandler. She took off her backpack and lowered it, thinking the pink color might be noticeable. Hunched over, she ran along the edge of the woods, taking cover where she could until she found a spot close to the cyclone fence.